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• SMHC Annual Election Picnic 2022

  • When
    08/13/2022
  •  
    10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    GATOP Gardens and Arboretum, 2634 Delrose Drive, Knoxville, TN

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  Our annual SMHC Election Picnic will be held at The University of Tennessee/GATOP Arboretum and Education Center. The address for the gardens is 2634 Delrose Drive, Knoxville. Please note this address has changed from the originally listed address. Watch for balloons hanging at the entrance to parking, and then visit the tent to get a map to the gardens. Please bring a bagged lunch and a chair. We will provide drinks and dessert. Arrive early to explore the gardens between 11am and noon, then settle in for a special lunch treat with The Missing Goats Band playing Blue Grass, Irish, Scottish, and Appalachian music. Dana Soehn with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service will give a brief talk after lunch, then President Ken Wise will conduct Club business, including electing our slate of officers for 2023. Be sure to check out the table with SMHC merchandise as well as the list of future hikes that need leaders for 2023. This is your chance to see our schedule for hikes for next year and sign up to be a leader or co-leader as well as enjoy a delightful program!

  Register your attendance through the website, or if needed you may call Jeannette Gilbert 865-483-8774 or Debbie Goddard 865-382-3047 with questions.

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• Map Marker: Long Bunk and Little Cataloochee Trails

  • When
    08/20/2022
  •  
    7:00 AM
  • Location
    Cracker Barrel, 1510 Cracker Barrel Ln, Knoxville, TN 37914

  Register

  Let’s take the opportunity to make a long trek to the Cataloochee area and hike these lesser traveled trails. We will have to make a car shuttle along the sometimes rough gravel road NC284 from Big Creek/Mt Sterling town with extra cars and leave half of them at Mt. Sterling Gap. We then drive on the rest of old NC284 to Pretty Hollow Gap trailhead in Cataloochee and start hiking. We reach the Little Cataloochee trail in a short distance which climbs over a small ridge and descends down into Little Cataloochee Valley with several historic structures to visit. We will follow the Little Cataloochee trail to the end at Old NC284 then backtrack a short distance to the Long Bunk trail. The Long Bunk trail passes a cemetery and has several scenic views as it climbs gradually to the Mt. Sterling Ridge trail at the gap where shuttle cars are parked. We will return along NC284 to pick up the other cars and may choose to drive back via Cove Creek Rd and I-40. Hike is a total of 11 miles with elevation gain of 1500 ft. Rated moderate.Meet at Cracker Barrel off I-40 at Exit 398 in the southeast corner parking lot at 7:00 am. Round trip driving 160 miles @ 0.10/mile=$16.00.

  Leader: Tim Bigelow

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    08/20/2022
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    Cosby Campground Hiker Parking Area, GSMNP

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  On this AT work trip, we will be hiking out of Cosby along the Low Gap Trail. Once at Low Gap, we will divide into groups with some participants going north and some south. We will perform general maintenance duties including clearing out vegetation and cleaning water bars.

  Leader: Mark Shipley
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Wednesday Hike: Middle Prong Trail to Indian Flats Falls

  • When
    08/24/2022
  •  
    8:45 AM
  • Location
    Tremont Institute, GSMNP

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  We’ll see three multi-tiered falls including Lower Lynn Camp, Lynn Camp and Indian Flats. Historic artifacts to be seen along the trail include the rusting Cadillac, a homestead chimney and remnants from logging operations of the past. Hike will be out and back. RT is 7.8 miles. Rated moderate with elevation gain of 1175 ft. Meet at Alcoa Food City at 8:00AM or the trailhead at 8:45AM. Drive 50 miles RT {@ 0.10/mile = $5.00}.

  Leader: Steve Vittatoe

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Easy Hike: UT Arboretum

  • When
    08/27/2022
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    UT Arboretum, 901 S. Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

  Register

  We'll meet in the parking lot of The University of Tennessee Arboretum at 9:00AM for an hour-long easy hike. The Arboretum is located at 901 S. Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge. We will see some things that are at their peak in the summer and fall, such as the bog garden, the rain garden, and the Elmore holly collection. There will be a little bit about local history prior to the Manhattan Project taking over this boot-legging farming "hollow," as well. And if our new book on the Nature Book Trail is up by late August, we will check out Bugs on the Job.

  Leader: Janet Bigelow

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Map Marker: Noland Creek and Lower Noland Divide Trails

  • When
    08/28/2022
  •  
    7:00 AM
  • Location
    Cracker Barrel, 1510 Cracker Barrel Ln, Knoxville, TN 37914

  Register

  This hike begins with leaving some cars at the Noland Divide trailhead near the Deep Creek campground and driving over to Noland Creek trailhead off Lakeshore Drive. The Noland Creek trail follows the noisy scenic creek and gradually ascends to the end at Sassafras Gap at 4200 ft elevation. Along the way are a few remnants of historical structures and several campsites. There are several possibly deep creek crossings so water shoes and hiking poles are recommended. At the gap, we follow the Nolan Divide trail with a few ups and downs but mostly downhill to Deep Creek. We pass the Lonesome Pine overlook area and enjoy the views of the area and rest up a bit before the last bit of downhill to the cars. We will drive over to pick up the other cars. A stop in Bryson City is an option on the way back. Hike 17 miles with 2900 ft elevation gain. Rated difficult. Meet at Cracker Barrel off I-40 at Exit 398 in the southeast corner parking lot at 7:00AM. Round trip driving 160 miles @ 0.10 = $16.00.

  Leader: Tim Bigelow

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    09/10/2022
  •  
    8:45 AM
  • Location
    Clingmans Dome, GSMNP
  • Spaces left
    12

  With the assumption that Icewater privy will still be closed, we will plan to backpack mulch to Double Springs shelter for storage in the privy mulch boxes there. As many folks know, mulch is crucial for the function of the composting privies in the Park, and we want to be sure supplies are adequate for the southbound thru-hikers this fall! We will have pre-bagged mulch in 20 lb. bags, as well as extra backpacking-style backpacks if you need one. Please meet at Cracker Barrel off of the Strawberry Plains exit (1510 Cracker Barrel Lane) at 7AM, or at the Clingmans Dome parking lot at 8:45AM. Bring plenty of water, sturdy shoes, and snacks/ lunch. Roundtrip gas mileage from Cracker Barrel to Clingmans Dome and back is $11.00.

  Leader: Diane Petrilla
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    10/01/2022
  • Location
    GSMNP - Newfound Gap
  • Spaces left
    12

  The October work trip will take place about 1.2 miles northeast of Newfound Gap. We will work to return the trail tread to its proper location and improve water drainage in the area. The work will require moving rocks and possibly adding steps. Participants will need to dress for the weather and bring work gloves, lunch, and water.

  Pre-registration is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leader: Mark and Janet Snyder
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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